“World fuel price increases may make electricity price increases next year unavoidable. But I find it unacceptable that NIE should increase its price just at the beginning of the coldest season of the year. This leaves no time to prepare measures to minimise the impact on the most vulnerable members of society.
“I have written to the company today to make it clear that I expect the increase in prices to be introduced in a socially responsible way, with a full supporting package of measures to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society are, as far as possible, protected.”